MAINE, STICKS HALT STREAKS

S-MART (wherever that is!)-----John Maine, who entered play winless in 11 starts, finally got off the schneid and into the ‘W’ column with six-plus innings and his teammates scored thirteen runs off two Black Mesa pitchers in transition, converted reliever Todd Wellemeyer and former starter Hong-Chih Kuo, stopping the Anomalies ten-game winning streak, and in the process pulling the Boom Sticks (24-34) into second place in the moribund Central.

Maine (1-8, 4.79) allowed scratch runs in the first two frames on an RBI double by Kevin Kouzmanoff and a double-play grounder by Dustin Pedroia, and entered the fourth trailing 2-0 and seemingly in line for another hard-luck loss. But Pyrzinski, Young and Taveras all drove in runs to give S-Mart the lead against Wellemeyer (4-7, 5.84) and Nady and Helton each had RBI doubles to knock out the Creepers starter in the fifth. For good measure, both Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez went deep off closer Jonathan Papelbon in the eighth, and the rout was on.

Other than Jason Varitek’s solo shot in the seventh off Maine, that was it for Black Mesa, as S-Mart went on to win, 14-3, easily their biggest margin of victory this year. The loss dropped the surging Anomalies (31-29) a game-and-a-half behind West-leading Yuma.

In other BARB action:

CASSELTON 6, LAS VEGAS 1

WP: Aaron Harang (5-4, 3.24)
LP: Brett Myers (3-2, 3.07)

Adrian Gonzalez and Ken Griffey both went deep off Brett Myers, and Aaron Harang fanned seven in eight solid innings as the Horned Toads swept their three-game series with the Luchadores on the road in Las Vegas. It was the best stretch of the year for Casselton, which still ‘boasts’ a BARB-worst 22-35 record.

OAKEYLAND 6, LEXINGTON 1

WP: Dana Eveland (2-3, 6.61)
LP: Josh Beckett (4-5, 3.26)

Jim Thome and Mike Lowell both homered as part of a four-run first, and Josh Beckett (who clearly didn’t ‘have it’) never retired a hitter in the second as the Ballers rode an early surge to give Dane Eveland all the runs he would need, with the rookie lowering his ERA nearly three full points with a solid outing (7.1 IP, 3 H).

YUMA 1, POTTSYLVANIA 0

WP: Roy Halladay (3-6, 3.82)
LP: Gil Meche (4-7, 1.92)

Roy Halladay went all the way in outdueling Gil Meche for his third complete game of the year, and the eleventh of the year posted by Yuma’s outstanding rotation, and Vernon Wells drove in the game’s only run with a first-inning double as the Firebirds (34-29) continued to pitch well (3.64 team ERA, 4th in the league) but have trouble scoring (4.3 RPG, 9th in BARB). The search for another bat to fill in for injured DH Travis Hafner continues. . . .

DARWIN 10, BROOKLYN 6

WP: Randy Johnson (4-1, 3.67)
LP: Rafael Betancourt (4-3, 4.14)

The ‘Big Unit’ had another inconsistent start (5 ER), but was the beneficiary of an aroused Finches attack, as the Darwinians KO’ed both Roy Oswalt (2.1 IP, 5 ER) and then (after the Moabs scored five runs in the middle innings to tie the game) unloaded on relievers Rafael Betancourt and Matt Lindstrom. Josh Hamilton’s fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot, was the final blow that signaled a slugfest. Finches manager PZ Myers was not happy, however: “We gave up 24 runs in three games,” Myers noted. “We were lucky to get out of here with a win.”